Salary for a Legal Service Journeyman in the Air Force Reserve
A career in the Air Force Reserve does not necessarily mean becoming a soldier or flying aircraft. There are several supporting professions, as well. These include intelligence, public affairs, civil engineering and paralegal roles. If you join the Air Force Reserve as a paralegal, you receive drill pay for those in enlisted positions. To receive drill pay, you must complete at least four drills a month, which usually takes up one weekend. You do not perform paralegal services during a drill, only during times when called up for active duty.
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Job Description
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In the Air Force Reserve, a paralegal's duties are diverse. One of the main tasks is that of legal research, where you assist in court-martial proceedings. A court-martial is a trial within the Air Force or another military branch, when a member of the Air Force breaches the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Paralegals use their legal knowledge and expertise for drafting the required documents for a court-martial and researching the laws relevant to the criminal case. A paralegal also is responsible for processing all legal documentation within the Air Force, including powers of attorney, income tax returns, promissory notes and wills.
Drill Pay by Pay Grade
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Assuming one weekend of training a month, as of 2011, a paralegal in the Air Force Reserve receives drill pay of $195.68 per drill weekend with less than two years experience and a pay grade of E-1, which is equivalent to the rank of airman basic. With the same years of experience, a paralegal with the rank of airman receives $219.32. This increases to $230.64 for a airman first class, $255.48 for a senior airman, $278.68 for a staff sergeant, $304.16 for a technical sergeant and $351.64 for a master sergeant. The pay for senior master sergeants begins at $505.88, and $617.96 for chief master sergeants. If you are called up to serve during times of war, your salary increases to that of a paralegal on active duty.
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Drill Pay by Years of Service
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The longer you serve with the Air Force Reserves, the higher your drill pay. Drill pay does not increase for those who hold the rank of airman basic or regular airman. As of 2011, an airman first class can expect his pay to increase to $260 per drill weekend after three years' experience. All other ranks see pay increases after two years' experience. Drill pay increases gradually thereafter. The highest paralegal salary in the Air Force Reserve is $959.44, earned by a chief master sergeant with more than 40 years of Air Force experience.
Other Benefits
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Paralegals, like any other member of the Air Force reserve, receive a number of benefits in addition to their base pay. This includes retirement pay. The Air Force Reserve bases your retirement pay on the pay grades you received while enlisted with the reserve. Reservists also can purchase up to $250,000 of life insurance and receive free meals, free housing during training weekends, health benefits and free travel on military aircraft. Paralegals also can further their education by taking advantage of the Montgomery GI Bill, which offers funding for both undergraduate and graduate university degrees.
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